Random Fun!

I feel like we need a little random fun!  Weekends are always welcome and highly anticipated, but they aren't always fun!  I mean, if you work you have to spend the weekend cleaning, grocery shopping, generally... taking care of business.  Not fun, but it has to happen.  

Yesterday was our 34th wedding anniversary!  When we say 'time flies', we are not kidding! It seems like only a few years ago I donned my wedding gown...which was nothing of the sort!  A capri jump suit and a trip to the courthouse! 

Tonight we will celebrate with good friends from our 'Old Portland' crew.  One couple lives here in Nashville and the other couple is visiting from Portland.  Blast from the past, lots of good conversation and tons of laughs!

Anyway, on to random stuff.  I have an app on my phone called Boomerang.  If you don't have it...get it!!  It's hilarious!  I'll show you!



























I've been working on a quilt and accumulated this pile of cuttings.  You know me and photos or random scraps!  Then I thought of Boomerang...and got this hilarious video!

It's Alive!!

The past few days we have had a wild turkey hanging out in our yard!  Really crazy, especially since there is a resident fox who lives across the street.  You would think a turkey dinner might me enticing to him!

After I posted my tutorial for the Wonky Mini Charm, Vicki immediately pulled out a patriotic mini charm pack that had been sitting around for two years, and whipped up the cutest table runner!  

I still cannot believe how quickly she put this together!  And I'm so thankful she shared it with me!  She staged it so perfectly with Uncle Same, don't you think?!

Photo courtesy of Vicki knitbug2

Back in February I started a quilt for my daughter.  It was a milestone birthday for her and one that deserved a special quilt!  I recently got it back from the long arm quilter and sewed the binding on it that same day!  I wasn't too excited, was I?!  While she and I were taking photos for a upcoming blog post, we couldn't resist a little more Boomerang fun!

I'm hoping these videos work...if not I have both posted on Instagram!  You can check them out there!

I hope you have a random fun filled weekend!

Wonky Mini Charm Tutorial

I couldn't very well leave well enough alone!  While I was writing the tutorial for my 'Wonky Block' using Charm Squares, it occurred to me that perhaps we have the same problem with Mini Charm Squares.  How to use them!  With a little encouragement from a Blog friend, we worked out a plan for a Wonky Mini Charm ~ Mini Quilt!

Wonky Mini Charms
20 1/2" x 20 1/2"

For each block, you will need the following pieces:
1 - 2 1/2" Mini Charm Square
2 - 1 3/4" x 2 1/2" Strips
2 - 1 3/4" x 5" Strips

Just like the regular Wonky blocks, sew one (1) 1 3/4" x 2 1/2" to the top and bottom of your 2 1/2" square.  Press seams towards the center.

Next, sew one (1) 1 3/4" x 5" strip to each remain sides.  Press seams towards the outside. Your block will be 5" square before the 'Wonk Magic' happens.  

And for these mini blocks, I use my 4" ruler.  You can see I put a piece of tape at the 4" line which comes in very handy when trimming each block.  

Tilt, turn and move your ruler to the desired angle making sure that the block is inside the 4" square.  Remember to change it up!  You want your blocks to tilt to the left, right and center to get the total effect.

Trim your blocks to 4" square.

I've had a Mini Charm pack of Aneela Hoey's Posy f-o-r-ever!  I decided this would be a fun mini quilt for that little bundle of sweetness!

And now for the real treat!!  Sarah who blogs @Cedar Fork Stitches was more than willing to give this tutorial a go!  She, like many of us, has Charm Packs sitting in the wings waiting for the perfect project.  When I mentioned to her that I thought Mini Charms would make for a fun project, she flew in to high gear and whipped out her very own version!

Photo courtesy of Sarah @Cedar Fork Stitches

Sarah used her Sphere Mini Charms and totally mixed it up with the different background colors!  Isn't that cool?!  So many options with these blocks.

Photo courtesy of Sarah @Cedar Fork Stitches

  The quilting is a perfect compliment!  

Photo courtesy of Sarah @Cedar Fork Stitches

I have to share two of Sarah's Mini Quilts.  The one on the left (Cool Jayne, as she calls it!) was inspired by my big quilt: Cool Waters.  (Block tutorial here: Shadow Block)

And yes, she did name the one on the right too!  How about 'Wonky Jayne'?!  Sarah is a goof! (in a good way)  Thank you so much for volunteering and making this beautiful Mini Sarah!  Also, thanks for always making me smile with you comments!

  

Here's a sneak peak of an entirely different combination of fabrics made using the Mini Charm Tutorial.  I'll be sharing this one very soon!

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Party Celebration Quilt

You know me!  I had to make a quilt using my latest block design 'ASCEND'.  They always look good on paper, but one never knows until one makes more that one block!

As soon as I saw I had this Cotton + Steel piece in my stash, I knew I had to use it for this quilt. The perfect solids ended up being three Moda Cross Weave, Kona Highlight , Kona White and Kona Turquoise.  

Once I saw all the colors together...it reminded me of a party, a festive celebration!  And in a way I'm celebrating the birth of a new block and design!  (that's a stretch)

Party Celebration Quilt
33" x 45" 

This color scheme is so different from my tutorial block.  In the original, the flying geese are front and center, they stand out because of the dark blue.  These geese are much more laid back, letting the solids become the focal point.  I don't think this quilt could have taken one more bright bold color.

  
The back is Kona Turquoise with a band of 'party goers' doing a Conga Line across it.

Geometric quilting all the way!  I put on my Dot to Dot hat, but machine quilted and found points that I could connect.  I really like how it turned out!

This quilt isn't a square at all...it's a Party Animal! 

 

'Block My World'...my block worked!  It became an interesting design that can change depending on fabric, colors and imagination.  I have a few plans brewing, the question is when will I find the time!

LINKING:

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Wonky Block ~ Tutorial {GIVEAWAY}

It's here!  The revised Wonky Block made with Charm Squares!  The idea is give you another option for Charm Squares.  I know I have a stack sitting around!  If you don't, you can always cut blocks for this tutorial.

Making the blocks wonky or tilted isn't hard at all.   I'm going to share my process with you. Show you how I get the 'Wonk' I want with as little fuss as possible.

These are the three basic blocks.  When you make the blocks, you will want to have a variety. The tilting blocks can have a lot of tilt or a little.  Mix it up!

Tilting to the right.                       Straight.                                          Tilting to the left.
  

For each block, you will need the following:
1 - 5" x 5" Square
2 - 5" x 2 3/4" Strip
2 - 9 1/2" x 2 3/4" Strip

Sew a 5" x 2 3/4" strip to the top and bottom of your charm square using 1/4" seams.  I press my seams towards the center, but use what ever method you prefer.

Sew the 9 1/2" x 2 3/4" strips on either side.  Press seams towards the outside.  

Once you have all your blocks assembled (strip piecing is wonderful for this), you will need to 'Wonk' and trim each block.

I take a little extra time when it's time to trim my blocks.  Why?  Because I want it to be easy, fast and efficient!  I really don't want to have to think too hard!

Grab your cutting mat and some masking tape!  I used my small rotating mat, but any mat will work just fine.

Each block is going to be trimmed to 7 1/2" unfinished, that will give us a 7" finished block. I place a piece of tape just to the outside of the 7 1/2" line and continue it on all four sides. Just inside the masking tape is my perfect square ready for cutting.  

But...to make it even easier, I slice out notches where my rotary blade will travel so I don't have to continually slice through the tape.  It gets stuck in the blade grooves and is frankly...a pain in the butt!

Now I'm ready to assembly line cut my wonky blocks.

Take a finished block and place it on your cutting mat, tilting it to the right or left to get the wonky effect.  

You can see from the photo above, that the block appears to be covering the entire block area, but you can flip the corners to make sure.  

Once you are sure, take your ruler and rotary cutter, line up just inside the tape (use your lines) and trim the block on all sides to make a perfect wonky square.

Remember to change the angle of the blocks to tilt left, right and center.  Tilt them a little, tilt them a lot, variety is the best effect.

The red line is where you are going to cut.

This is the layout I used in my 'Off Kilter' Quilt.  

This design has so many possibilities!  Rainbow, scrappy, modern fabrics ~ the choice is yours!  If you do make a quilt using this Wonky Block, I would love to see it! 

{GIVEAWAY}

Two (2) Charm Packs (30 ~ 5"x 5" Squares)
Assorted Feed Sack Reproduction Fabric
Two Winners!

Tell me what you might make with one of these bundles or any Charm Pack!  You don't have to follow me, but it would be nice!  

• This giveaway will end on April 9th at 6 PM Mountain time. 
• Open to US Only
• If you're a 'no reply' or an anonymous commenter, include your email address in your comment 
• TWO winners will be randomly picked using Random Generator

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!

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